Real Madrid returns to the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday under immense pressure. Following a chaotic 4-2 defeat to Benfica in the Champions League, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side must beat Rayo Vallecano to silence the growing whistles and stay within touching distance of the La Liga summit.
The atmosphere in Madrid is tense. The “Arbeloa Era” began with a sting, as the team was dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Albacete and recently slipped into the Champions League playoffs after a nightmare night in Lisbon. Despite leading twice through Kylian Mbappé, Madrid conceded a historical last-minute goal to Benfica’s goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, ending the league phase in 9th place.
The Bernabéu Litmus Test
Sunday’s 10:00 AM (BRT) kickoff against Rayo Vallecano is more than just a league game; it’s a test of the fans’ patience. In mid-January, the Madridista crowd made their frustrations clear, booing stars like Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham during the win against Levante.
Currently sitting in 2nd place with 51 points—three behind leaders FC Barcelona—Real Madrid cannot afford another slip-up. For the visitors, the stakes are equally high, as Rayo hovers dangerously close to the relegation zone in 16th place.
Arbeloa: A Temporary Solution?
While Arbeloa is a club legend, his stint as head coach is widely viewed as a “bridge” to the next project. Despite only having suffered two defeats in his first five games, the manner of the Champions League collapse has intensified rumors that Florentino Pérez is already searching for a permanent successor for the 2026/27 season.
- The Prime Target: Aston Villa’s Unai Emery is reportedly the favorite to take the reins this summer.
- The Mission: Arbeloa’s task is to stabilize a locker room still reeling from the sudden departure of Xabi Alonso.
Probable Lineups
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Militão, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Arda Güler, Mbappé, and Vinícius Jr.
Gabriel Lucio is a football analyst covering La Liga, focusing on match analysis, tactical trends, and the race for domestic and European positions.
